Alberta Election Thread - Election Day April 16 2019

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'm seeing some chatter on social media that UCP candidates - Doug Schweitzer and some in Lethbridge - are refusing to do debates? Anyone else seen this?

Greg Clark and Janet Eremenko will attend a debate at MRU tomorrow, and Schweitzer declined, and instead asked of April 11 worked instead, adding that "platforms" should be out by then.

Are they not allowed to debate the issues directly with other candidates yet? Curious to know why that might be. There's only a limited amount of time in this election, seems like a waste especially when voters want answers as soon as possible.

Are all the platforms out yet? Why would you debate without platforms out?

Tomorrow seems extremely early for a debate IMO.

[Ozy_Flame]

So then how come the AP and NDP can do it but the UCP can't?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

That's rich considering the party you'll likely be voting for is accused of undermining the democratic process through campaign financing violations and bogus email addresses.

The best thing about whataboutism is that it is truly non-partisan.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'm seeing some chatter on social media that UCP candidates - Doug Schweitzer and some in Lethbridge - are refusing to do debates? Anyone else seen this?

Greg Clark and Janet Eremenko will attend a debate at MRU tomorrow, and Schweitzer declined, and instead asked of April 11 worked instead, adding that "platforms" should be out by then.

Are they not allowed to debate the issues directly with other candidates yet? Curious to know why that might be. There's only a limited amount of time in this election, seems like a waste especially when voters want answers as soon as possible.

Saying Schweitzer "refused" to do a debate is an outright lie on your part when his response was actually to ask for another date.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Saying Schweitzer "refused" to do a debate is an outright lie on your part when his response was actually to ask for another date.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1110942348584910849

https://twitter.com/user/status/1110972835143565313

Looks like he may be refusing until the UCP full platform.

I'm not sure what else to call it? He said said no. That is a refusal to me, although you and I don't often see eye to eye (for the better!)

Either way, seems unbecoming of a candidate.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Doesn't sound like he is judging either. But we all know only one party leader gets judged for their old beliefs.

Do we?

That protest photo has been posted over and over again on CP and conservative media outlets as some damning evidence against Notley.

Drudging up the past, as convenient as it would be to claim “your side” doesn’t do it, is an activity that certainly does not hold itself to one party.

Even outside of leaders, MLAs, we all remember the very vocal response from some against Deborah Drever’s past photos. Let’s stop with the victim hood and the pretending that this stuff isn’t used at will by people of any political affiliation.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Are you judging Kenney for his previous statements or only judging Notley for hers?

Neither. Kenny did say and do some reprehensible things in his past. Things he has expressed regret over and made statements showing that he isn't going to be turning back the clock on anyone's rights, or trying to.

Notley has show that she can stand up for the interests of Albertans despite what her personal beliefs might be in regards to pipelines and oil & gas development.

There is probably a degree of political expediency associated with both of them changing their tune and I'm sure if they were both in private, they'd have different things to say. But it seems both are able to put either the collective good or societal demands ahead of their personal beliefs, which any politician should be doing.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Not for private schools. Education property taxes can only go to separate or public schools.

I believe full funding goes to Charter Schools which don’t charge additional tuition and 50% of the amount goes to private schools that do charge tuition. (EDIT: reading the CBC article below this is quite correct)

Taxpayers should never be subsidizing the private option despite the fact it reduces load on public schools. I agree with fully funding Charter schools.

A decent CBC article on the merits of each position. It does not discuss charter schools.
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4553955

[Dion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1111007026300112896

[monkeyman]

It's too bad the NDP don't spend as much time working on the issues plaguing the province as they do slinging mud and creating websites to disparage opponents.
On government time I should add.

[Weitz]

I can’t wait to see if Notley loses if she goes back to the anti O&G.

Part of the reason I can’t vote for her is I don’t trust her to go all out to get the pipelines we need.

Although my favourite claim for them is more money to reduce wait times. Yet over 4 years all the major surgeries have increased in wait times despite the increased spending. Shocking that throwing money at the problem doesn’t solve it.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by Dion

https://twitter.com/user/status/1111007026300112896

I am surprised Sarah Hoffman can still write, considering how many bullets she has taken for Rachel over the last 4 years.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

It's too bad the NDP don't spend as much time working on the issues plaguing the province as they do slinging mud and creating websites to disparage opponents.
On government time I should add.

Election fraud is a fairly serious issue.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Election fraud is a fairly serious issue.

What we need is an NDP election fraud.

Then it would be a massive issue.

[Flames0910]

While we all know Edmonton is no good, I think we can agree that the march they organized tonight from the legislature to UCP headquarters in support of LGBTQ Albertans and GSAs is, in fact, quite good.

https://twitter.com/CanadaMoments/st...69964230897665

[Bootsy]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I can’t wait to see if Notley loses if she goes back to the anti O&G.

Part of the reason I can’t vote for her is I don’t trust her to go all out to get the pipelines we need.

Her recent appointment of Ed Whittingham as an AER Board Member shows she never left her anti O&G ways. Her entire caucus is full of anti oil extremists and many of her appointments have been even worse in actively trying to shut down the AB energy industry.
She can put the facade she is fighting hard for the AB O&G industry all she wants but when she appoints extremists such as Topp, Berman, Mitchell and now Whittingham to positions of power there is clearly an agenda it's just behind closed doors..

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Election fraud is a fairly serious issue.

Let's be realistic, it is significantly less damaging because it was an internal party leadership race, and not a public election. Hence the main legal issues being in relation to donation limits and the use of donations, and not the attempt to put one over on the UCP membership.

That being said, Hoffman weighing in is a fairly stupid strategic error. This was a big story on its own, just go campaign and let it happen. Now it's a partisan talking point.

[Ozy_Flame]

Is it? If Kenney is innocent (and I'm sure he is), he shouldn't have any problem providing a sworn statement. This should be an easy win for him to take the NDP down a peg and show Alberta he's not involved in this.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I was a U of A student, and this year their fees are $205 for the student union.

Did that include a health plan or bus pass?

At the U of S the $100 per year bus pass and health plan were pretty good accomplishments of the student union.

I think the national lobby group the CFS that works it’s way onto campus and runs referendums that don’t follow the University requirements to extract money directly from their students is pretty brutal.

The Student Unions also run a lot of outreach services that should really be run by the universities themselves so I’m not sure it actually ends up saving money getting rid of them. Academic Advocacy Offices to help students who have issues with their professors navigate appealing grades and academic sanctions, Men’s and Women’s Center, LGBTQ associations, Free Condoms, etc.

They also provide a student voice into all of the committees at universities. I’m not sure you can say every student gets their value directly however I would argue that overall they are a net positive to the University.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by GGG

Did that include a health plan or bus pass?

At the U of S the $100 per year bus pass and health plan were pretty good accomplishments of the student union.

I think the national lobby group the CFS that works it’s way onto campus and runs referendums that don’t follow the University requirements to extract money directly from their students is pretty brutal.

The Student Unions also run a lot of outreach services that should really be run by the universities themselves so I’m not sure it actually ends up saving money getting rid of them. Academic Advocacy Offices to help students who have issues with their professors navigate appealing grades and academic sanctions, Men’s and Women’s Center, LGBTQ associations, Free Condoms, etc.

They also provide a student voice into all of the committees at universities. I’m not sure you can say every student gets their value directly however I would argue that overall they are a net positive to the University.

Well the answer to the first line is no i took out the stuff you can opt out of.

The rest is noise.